Feeding apparatus and a method of feeding

ABSTRACT

A feeding apparatus aimed at efficiently supplying feed to chicks in a chick box, which can hold the feed in the chick box and can supply the feed to the chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed is supplied to the chicks in the chick box by means of a feeding apparatus which can maintain the feed at the height of the chicks&#39; beaks when they are standing.

This application is a national phase of International Application No.PCT/IB01/01379 filed Aug. 2, 2001, which claims priority to JapanesePatent Application No. 2000-241937 filed Aug. 9, 2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus for feeding chicksin a chick box, and to a method of feeding.

BACKGROUND ART

Infection of chicken eggs by Salmonella (such as Salmonella Enteritidis(SE)) is one of the principal causes of Salmonella food poisoning.

When a laying hen is infected with Salmonella, the infection spreads inthe body to the ovaries and oviducts, and penetrates the eggs.Consequently, the interior of an egg is already contaminated withSalmonella when it is laid. Salmonella contamination cannot be detectedby external inspection, and internal contamination cannot be removed bythe washing process at grading and packaging centers (the plants wherechicken eggs are cleaned, graded by size and packaged).

Even when chickens are infected with Salmonella, the rate of Salmonellacontamination in the eggs produced is only about 0.01–1%, but if sucheggs are not exposed to sufficient heat during preparation the bacteriamay survive and proliferate to the point of causing food poisoning.Lower bacterial numbers are required to cause food poisoning in peoplewith low resistance such as infants and the sick and elderly than inhealthy adults.

Measures are necessary at all stages in the production and distributionprocesses from farm to table in order to ensure the hygienic quality ofthe eggs and prevent Salmonella food poisoning. In particular, it isnecessary to reduce Salmonella infection rates in chicken flocks.

Under current poultry practices, however, chicks are produced inhatcheries without any contact with their parents, and are thoroughlydisinfected at each stage in order to prevent the transmission ofdisease from breeding stock. As a result, the chicks do not receive fromtheir parents the beneficial intestinal flora that they need to protectthem against intestinal pathogens, and are extremely vulnerable toSalmonella at juveniles. When such chicks are then raised in the normalway in the field, it requires six weeks or more for them to develop theintestinal flora that they need to protect them against Salmonellainfection.

Consequently, it is thought that Salmonella infection rates in flocksare affected by Salmonella infection of juvenile chicks with immatureintestinal flora, and therefore a reduction in Salmonella infectionrates among chicks is necessary in order to reduce Salmonella infectionrates in flocks.

A method has already been developed of effectively preventing Salmonellainfection by the controlled administration of adult intestinal flora tochicks (E. Nurmi and M. Rantala, New aspects of Salmonella infection inbroiler industry, Nature 241:210–211 (1973). Using this method,proliferation of Salmonella in the bodies of chicks is effectivelyprevented even if they are orally infected, and the high level ofexcretion normally seen in the field does not occur. This method isknown as the Competitive Exclusion or Nurmi method.

In general, the anaerobically cultured cecal contents, mucous membraneof the gut or feces of adult birds are used to inoculate the chicks withintestinal flora. This is known as an Undefined Culture because thespecies and numbers of bacteria cannot be precisely identified. Productsare also available in which the bacterial species and numbers in anUndefined Culture have been identified through long-term continuousculture, or in which pure bacterial cultures isolated from UndefinedCultures have been mixed together. These are known as Defined Culturesbecause the bacterial species and numbers have been identified.Undefined Cultures and Defined Cultures are known collectively asCompetitive Exclusion Cultures (CE Cultures).

In order for such Competitive Exclusion Cultures to be used to preventSalmonella contamination, they must be administered to the chicks in thenecessary quantity as soon as possible after hatching.

Oral administration to individual chicks as in a laboratory is ideal forthis purpose, but this method is too labor- and time-intensive andconsequently too expensive for application in the field. Under fieldconditions, spraying of hatching eggs and misting of chicks are used inthe hatcheries and administration through drinking water on the farm.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to administer a sufficient quantity ofCompetitive Exclusion Culture to chicks soon enough after hatching bythese methods. In particular, it is difficult to administer thenecessary quantity of Competitive Exclusion Culture in a short period oftime to 0–7 day old chicks, which consume little food and water.

Under these circumstances, the inventors previously developed aprobiotic composition (a live microbial feed supplement) suitable foradministering the necessary quantity of Competitive Exclusion Culture tochicks as soon as possible after hatching, in which the CompetitiveExclusion Culture is fixed in a gel with polysaccharides which gelate ina water medium (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-302185).Using this probiotic composition, the chicks' natural genetic program(habit) of pecking and ingesting solid matter in front of them isexploited to induce them to ingest the necessary quantity of CompetitiveExclusion Culture in a short period of time during the first 7 days oflife when they consume little food or water, and thus to protect themagainst Salmonella contamination.

However, a feeding apparatus and feeding method have yet to be developedcapable of inducing chicks in a chick box to efficiently ingest aprobiotic composition in solid gel form.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a feeding apparatus andfeeding method capable of inducing chicks to efficiently ingest feed ina chick box.

(1) In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides afeeding apparatus which can hold feed in a chick box and supply the feedto chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed can be maintained at theheight of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.

Newly hatched chicks are not steady on their feet and spend most oftheir time sitting, making it easier for them to recognize and ingestfeed placed on the bottom of the chick box, but as time elapses afterhatching they are more steady on their feet and spend more timestanding, making it easier for them to recognize and ingest feed whichis positioned at beak height. Consequently, in the feeding apparatus ofthe present invention, the position of the feed in the chick box ismaintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing inthe chick box, allowing for more efficient ingestion of feed than if thefeed were placed on the bottom of the chick box.

Moreover, if feed is placed on the bottom of the chick box, the chicksare likely to step on the feed and scatter it, making it difficult toensure that the chicks actually ingest the feed packed in the feedingapparatus. By contrast, in the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, stepping on and scattering of the feed by the chicks isprevented by maintaining the position of the feed in the chick box atthe height of the chicks' beaks when standing, ensuring that the feedpacked in the feeding apparatus is actually ingested by the chicks.

There are no particular limits on the types of feed used with thefeeding apparatus of the present invention, as long as they are fed tothe chicks to achieve the specified objectives, and specific examplesinclude foods, probiotics, vaccines, various drugs and mixtures ofthese. Food may contain ingredients necessary for chick growth such aswater, glucose and other carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins andminerals, while probiotics, vaccines and drugs may contain ingredients(such as Competitive Exclusion Cultures for forming intestinal flora inchicks in the case of probiotics) necessary for maintaining chick health(by increasing resistance to pathogenic bacteria or preventing ortreating various diseases, for example).

There are no particular limits on the form of feed used with the feedingapparatus of the present invention, so long as it can be stored withinthe chick box by the feeding apparatus of the present invention, andpowdered, granular, liquid and gel forms are all acceptable, but the gelform is preferred. This is because the gel form allows the chicks'genetic program (habit) of pecking and ingesting solid matter in frontof them to be exploited to induce them to ingest the necessary quantityof feed in a short period of time during the first 7 days of life whentheir food and water intake is low.

Chicks suited to the feeding apparatus of the present invention may bethe chicks of any bird species, but are ordinarily those of domesticpoultry such as chickens. There are no particular limits on the chicks'stage of growth (elapsed time after hatching), but the feeding apparatusof the present invention is ideally suited to feeding chicks aged about0–7 days, a period during which food and water intake is low. Thefeeding apparatus of the present invention is also best suited to chickswhich have been hatched long enough that they spend most of their timestanding rather than to newly-hatched chicks which are unsteady on theirfeet and spend most of their time sitting down.

The height at which food is maintained in the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention is the height of the chicks' beaks when they arestanding in the chick box. The height differs according to the speciesand age of the chicks, but for example if the chick box contains 0–2 dayold chicken chicks, the height is normally50–100 mm or preferably 70–90mm or more preferably 75–85 mm above the surface of the base of thechick box.

The position at which feed is maintained in the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention is not restricted as long as it is at the height ofthe chicks' beaks when standing in the chick box, and may be near thecenter of the chick box or next to the side panel or partition, forexample, but a position next to the side panel or partition of the chickbox is desirable from the standpoint of preventing obstacle to thechicks in the box.

There are no particular limits on the shape, structure, size and thelike of the chick box used with the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention as long as it is capable of containing chicks. The chick boxgenerally has a box shape with a base and vertical sides surrounding thebase. In some cases the chick box may have partitions dividing theinterior of the box into several compartments, or it may have a lid. Thetop end portion of the side panel or partition panel of the chick boxmay also be provided with protrusions that fit into holes orindentations in the lid. Examples of chick boxes include rearing boxesused for rearing chicks in a hatchery or farm and transport or shippingboxes used for transporting or shipping chicks from hatchery to farm,and the feeding apparatus of the present invention can be applied to anyof these kinds of boxes.

There are no particular limits on the shape, structure, size and thelike of the feeding apparatus of the present invention, so long as itcan maintain the position of the feed in the chick box at the height ofthe chicks' beaks when they are standing, and supply feed to the chicksin the chick box.

(2) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, the feeding apparatus comprises a feed container which has anaperture and can contain gel feed, wherein the feed container can bemaintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.

In the present embodiment, the feed container can easily be filled withgel feed through the aperture in the container. Also, because the feedcontainer is maintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they arestanding, the gel feed contained in the feed container is efficientlysupplied to the chicks through the aperture in the feed container.

In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on the shape,structure, size and the like of the feed container, so long as it has anaperture and can contain gel feed. There are also no particular limitson the shape, size and the like of the aperture of the feed container,so long as the feed container can be filled with gel feed through theaperture, and so long as the feed in the feed container can be suppliedto the chicks through the aperture.

In the present embodiment, the feed container should ideally be filledwith gel feed, but may also be filled with powdered, granular, liquidand other feeds as long as they can be contained in the feed container.

(3) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, the feed container has a protrusion and/or indentation whichcan prevent spillage of the gel feed contained in the feed container.

Spillage of the gel feed contained in the feed container may occur whenthe gel feed in the feed container is subjected to shock or vibration,as for example when chicks are pecking at and trying to eat the gel feedin the feed container, or when a chick box equipped with the feedingapparatus is shipped or transported. In the present embodiment, the feedcontainer is provided with a protrusion and/or indentation whichincreases the area of contact between the feed container and the gelfeed inside the feed container, thus preventing spillage of the gel feedcontained in the feed container and ensuring that the gel feed in thefeed container is ingested by the chicks.

In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on the shape,structure, size or the like of the protrusion and/or indentation in thefeed container, so long as it increases the area of contact between thefeed container and the gel feed contained in the feed container.

(4) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, the feeding apparatus comprises an aperture directionadjuster which can adjust the aperture direction of the aperture of thefeed container.

In the present embodiment, the aperture direction of the aperture of thefeed container can be adjusted to make it easier for the chicks torecognize and ingest the feed in the feed container, thus allowing themto ingest the feed in the feed container more efficiently.

In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on the shape,structure, size and the like of the aperture direction adjuster, as longas it can adjust the aperture direction of the aperture of the feedcontainer.

(5) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, the feeding apparatus comprises a hanger which can hang onthe top end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box,and a suspender which can suspend the feed container from the top endportion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box.

In the present embodiment, the feeding apparatus can easily be installedin the chick box by hanging the hanger on the top end portion of a sidepanel or partition panel of the chick box. The feed container can alsobe maintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standingby suspending the feed container from the top end portion of a sidepanel or partition panel of the chick box by means of the suspender.Moreover, installing the feeding apparatus of the present embodimentnear the side panel or partition panel of the chick box prevents damageto the chicks in the chick box from the feeding apparatus.

In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on the shape,structure and the like of the hanger, so long as it can be hung on thetop end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box.There are no particular limits on how the hanger is hung, and forexample it may have a flat part and be hung on the top end portion of aside panel or partition panel of the chick box by laying the flat parton the top end portion, or it may have a hook and be hung on the top endportion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box by hangingthe hook on the top end portion. In the present embodiment, there arealso no particular limits on the shape, structure and the like of thesuspender, so long as it is capable of suspending the feed containerfrom the top end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chickbox. The suspenders may suspend the feed containers from both sides of aside panel or partition panel of the chick box (so that the feedcontainers are on opposite sides with the side panel or partition panelbetween them), a feed container may be suspended from only one side.

(6) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, the hanger has an insertion hole into which can be inserted aprotrusion provided at the top end portion of the side panel orpartition panel of the chick box.

In the present embodiment, the hanger is securely fixed to the top endportion of the side panel or partition panel of the chick box byinserting the protrusion provided at the top end portion of the sidepanel or partition panel of the chick box into the insertion hole of thehanger.

In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on the shape,size, position and the like of the insertion hole, so long as aprotrusion provided at the top end portion of a side panel or partitionpanel of the chick box can be inserted therein.

(7) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality ofthe feed containers are provided so that the hanger is positionedbetween them.

In the present embodiment, the feed containers are suspended from thetop end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box onboth sides of the side panel or partition panel (that is, the suspendedcontainers are on opposite sides with the side panel or partition panelbetween them), allowing for feed to be supplied more cost-effectively tochicks on both sides of the side panel or partition panel of the chickbox.

(8) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feedingapparatus is made of A-PET.

In the present embodiment, because A-PET is transparent and can beincinerated, it is easy to assess consumption of feed in the feedcontainer, and the feeding apparatus can be incinerated while stillinstalled in the chick box.

(9) Moreover, in order to achieve the said object, the present inventionprovides a feeding method for placing feed in a chick box and supplyingthe feed to chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed is placed at theheight of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.

In the feeding method of the present invention, as in the feedingapparatus of the present invention, the chicks ingest feed moreefficiently than if it were placed on the bottom of the chick boxbecause it is placed at the height of the chicks' beaks when they arestanding in the chick box, which also prevents the chicks from steppingon the feed and scattering it, ensuring that the feed in the chick boxis ingested.

In the feeding method of the present invention, the suitable chicks,feed, height of the feed in the chick box, position of feed in the chickbox and the like are the same as in the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention, and the feeding method of the present invention may beimplemented by using the feeding apparatus of the present invention.However, the feeding method of the present invention may be implementedusing a feeding apparatus other than the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention.

(10) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding method of the presentinvention, the feed is a gel feed.

In the present embodiment, the use of a gel feed allows the chicks'genetic program (habit) of pecking and trying to eat solid matter infront of them to be exploited to induce them to eat the necessary amountof feed in a short period of time during the first 7 days of life whenthey consume little food or water.

When the feed is in gel form, the gel strength should be about 200–2000g/cm², and when agar is used as the gelatinizer this gel strength can beobtained with an agar concentration of about 0.5–3.0%, depending on thetype of agar.

(11) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding method of the presentinvention, the feed is colored blue.

Chicks will eat food that is colored blue by preference over feed thatis uncolored or colored red, green or the like, so in the feeding methodof the present embodiment the feed is colored blue in order to inducethe chicks to eat the feed efficiently.

In the present embodiment, the feed contains blue pigment. There are noparticular limits on the type of blue pigment contained in the feed aslong as it colors the feed blue. Specific examples of blue pigmentsinclude Blue No. 4, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2, and these can be usedindividually or in combinations of 2 or more. “Blue” signifies a colorwith a spectrum wavelength of 400–500 nm or preferably 450–500 nm. Forexample, if Blue No. 4 is used as the blue pigment, a colorcorresponding to 0.03–0.1% (w/v) of Blue No. 4 solution is desirable,and a color corresponding to 0.03–0.04% (w/v) of Blue No. 4 solution ismore desirable.

In the present embodiment, so long as the feed is colored blue there areno particular limits on the blue pigment content of the feed, which canbe adjusted as necessary according to the type of blue pigment and theproperties of the feed, but the blue pigment content should be enough tocolor all of the feed blue. When the feed is a gel and Blue No. 4 isused as the blue pigment, it is desirable to adjust the Blue No. 4content so that the Blue No. 4 concentration in the feed is 0.01–0.5%(w/v), or preferably 0.03–0.1% (w/v), or more preferably 0.03–0.04%(w/v).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plane view showing one embodiment of the feeding apparatusof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention installed on a partition panel of achick box;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention installed on a partition panel of achick box and supplying feed to chicks in the chick box;

FIG. 6 is a plane view showing another embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a plane view showing yet another embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is explained below based on thedrawings.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plane view showing thesame embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing the same embodiment,FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing the feeding apparatus of the sameembodiment installed on a partition panel of a chick box, and FIG. 5 isa cross-section showing the feeding apparatus of the same embodimentinstalled on a partition panel of a chick box and supplying feed tochicks in the chick box.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, feeding apparatus 1 comprises first body 11,second body 12, and hanger 4 between first body 11 and second body 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, first body 11 and second body 12 each comprisefeed container 2 having aperture 21, flange 7 around aperture 21,aperture direction adjuster 3 for adjusting the aperture direction ofaperture 21, and suspender 6 which is connected to flange 7 by means ofaperture direction adjuster 3, and first body 11 and second body 12 arepositioned symmetrically on either side of hanger 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, feed container 2 comprises semi-rectangular base22 and side panel 23 surrounding base 22, with flange 7 around the topend portion of side panel 23.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, aperture 21 is formed in a semi-rectangular shapeat the top end of feed container 2, so that feed container 2 (the hollowarea formed by base 22 and side panel 23 ) can be filled with gel feedthrough aperture 21. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the gel feed F containedin feed container 2 can be ingested by chick H in chick box 8 throughaperture 21. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the area of aperture 21 isslightly wider than the area of base 22, making it easier to pack in gelfeed through aperture 21 and to supply feed to chicks.

Feed container 2 may contain powder, granular or other feed other thangel feed, but as shown in FIG. 5, when feed containers 2 are suspendedfrom the top end portion of partition panel 81 of chick box 8 and thefeed F in feed containers 2 is supplied to chicks H, the aperturedirection of apertures 21 of feed containers 2 is perpendicular orroughly perpendicular to partition panel 81 of chick box 8, so thatfilling feed containers 2 with gel feed makes more sense from thestandpoint of preventing spillage of feed from feed containers 2.Moreover, having feed containers 2 filled with a gel feed allows thechicks' genetic program (habit) of pecking and trying to eat solidmatter in front of them to be exploited to induce them to eat thenecessary quantity of feed in a short period of time during the first 7days of life when they consume little food or water.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, first body 11 and second body 12 each have onefeed container 2. It is also possible for first body 11 and second body12 to each have multiple feed containers 2, but as shown in FIGS. 4 and5, when feed containers 2 are suspended from the top end portion ofpartition panel 81 of chick box 8, it is better from the standpoint offeeding as many chicks as possible for first body 11 and first body 12to each have one feed container 2, and for apertures 21 of feedcontainers 2 to be as horizontally long as possible. The horizontallength of apertures 21 of feed containers 2 can be determined as neededaccording to the horizontal length of the partition panel or side panelof the chick box on which feed container 2 is suspended.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, feed containers 2 are parallel to hanger 4, andas shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when feed containers 2 are suspended frompartition panel 81 of chick box 8, feed containers 2 are maintained at afixed height above the surface of bottom 83 of chick box 8. As shown inFIG. 5 “a fixed height” signifies the height of beaks H1 of chicks Hwhen they are standing in chick box 8. The height differs according tothe species and age of the chicks, but for example if chicks H are 0–2day old chicks, this height would normally be 50–100 mm or preferably70–90 mm or more preferably 75–85 mm above Bottom 83 of chick box 8.

The structure of feed container 2 may be varied as long as it hasaperture 21 and can contain a gel feed, and it is possible for exampleto form aperture 21 and base 22 in a circular or other shape, or forbase 22 to be curved, or for the areas of aperture 21 and base 22 to beidentical or nearly identical. There are no particular limits on thecapacity of feed container 2, but the capacity should be enough tocontain the quantity of feed necessary to supply all chicks in the chickbox. For example, when providing chicks with a gel probiotic compositioncontaining a competitive exclusion culture for purposes of forming theirintestinal flora, the capacity of feed container 2 should be determinedso that each chick can ingest about 0.5 ml of the probiotic composition;if one feed container 2 is being used to supply 25 chicks with gelprobiotic composition, then the capacity of one feed container 2 shouldbe at least 25 ml. In addition, the depth of feed container 2 should besuch that the chicks can ingest the gel feed contained in feed container2 with their beaks, or about 3–15 mm or preferably 5–10 mm, depending onthe type and stage of development of the chicks.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, the surface of base 22 of feed container 2 hasprotrusions 24 (referred to hereunder as “zigzag protrusions 24”) whichappear as a zigzag in the plane view (see FIG. 2), while the inside wallof side panel 23 of feed container 2 has protrusions 25 (referred tohereunder as “wavy protrusions 25”) which appear wavy in the plane view(see FIG. 2). Zigzag protrusions 24 and wavy protrusions 25 increase thearea of contact between feed container 2 and the gel feed contained infeed container 2, and serve to prevent spillage of the gel feedcontained in feed container 2. The shape, position and size of zigzagprotrusions 24 and wavy protrusions 25 may be varied as long as the areaof contact between feed container 2 and the gel feed contained in feedcontainer 2 is increased. Zigzag protrusions 24 and wavy protrusions 25may be eliminated or only one may be provided, but from the standpointof effectively preventing spillage of the gel feed it is better to haveboth.

It is also possible to have indentations in the upper surface of bottom22 and the inner wall of side panel 23 of feed container 2. Like theprotrusions, the indentations are designed to prevent spillage of thegel feed contained in feed container 2 by increasing the area of contactbetween feed container 2 and the gel feed contained in feed container 2.The shape, position, size and the like of the indentations may bedetermined as appropriate so long as the area of contact between feedcontainer 2 and the gel feed contained in feed container 2 is increased.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, aperture 21 of feed container 2 is surrounded byflat flange 7, the corners of which are rounded. The corners of flange 7are rounded in order to prevent the chicks from being injured by thecorners of flange 7. The shape, size and the like of flange 7 may bevaried as desired with no particular limitations. Flange 7 may also beeliminated if allowed in molding process for feeding apparatus 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, aperture direction adjuster 3 is formed as agroove between flange 7 and suspender 6. The angle between suspender 6and flange 7 can be adjusted around the axis of this groove to adjustthe aperture direction of aperture 21 of feed container 2. The structureof aperture direction adjuster 3 may be varied as long as it can adjustthe aperture direction of aperture 21 of feed container 2. When it ispossible for the chicks to ingest the gel feed contained in feedcontainer 2 without any adjustment of the aperture direction of aperture21, aperture direction adjuster 3 may be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, suspender 6 consists of a semi-rectangular sheetwhich is connected at one end (the bottom in FIG. 2) to flange 7 bymeans of aperture direction adjuster 3, and at the other end (the top inFIG. 2) to the two connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4 by means ofbends 5. Suspender 6 serves to maintained a fixed distance betweenaperture direction adjuster 3 and hanger 4, thus maintaining a fixeddistance between hanger 4 and feed container 2, which is connected toaperture direction adjuster 3 by means of flange 7. That is, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, when feed container 2 is suspended from the top endportion of partition panel 81 of chick box 8, suspender 6 serves tomaintain feed container 2 at a fixed height above the surface of bottom83 of chick box 8. As shown in FIG. 5, “a fixed height” signifies theheight of the beaks H1 of chicks H when they are standing in chick box8. The shape, structure and the like of Suspender 6 may be varied aslong as it can maintain a fixed distance between feed container 2 andhanger 4, and for example it is possible for suspender 6 to be directlyconnected to feed container 2 (that is, connected to feed container 2without aperture direction adjuster 3 and flange 7).

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, suspender 6 is provided with grooves 61, whichappear semi-rectangular in the plane view (see FIG. 2) and serve toincrease the strength of suspender 6. The shape, position, size and thelike of grooves 61 may be varied as long as they increase the strengthof suspender 6, and they may also be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, bends 5 are set between hanger 4 and first body11 and between hanger 4 and first body 12, and by bending feedingapparatus 1 by means of bends 5 it is possible to vary the anglesbetween hanger 4 and first body 11 and between hanger 4 and first body12 around the axes of bends 5. The structure of bends 5 may be varied aslong as they can change the angles between hanger 4 and first body 11and between hanger 4 and first body 12, and for example they may begrooved or notched.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, hanger 4 is provided between first body 11 andsecond body 12, and includes connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4,vertical notches 43, which appear vertically in FIG. 2 as though joiningthe opposing ends of bends 5 on both sides of connector 41, andhorizontal notch 42, which appears horizontally in FIG. 2 as thoughjoining the opposing vertical notches 43. Vertical notches 43 andhorizontal notch 42 are shown in bold lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1–3, connectors 41 consist of rectangular sheets whichare connected at one end (the bottom in FIG. 2) to first body 11 bymeans of bends 5, and at the other end (the top in FIG. 2) to secondbody 12 by means of bends 5. Connectors 41 serve to connect first body11 to second body 12. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when feed containers 2are suspended from the top end portion of partition panel 81 of chickbox 8, connectors 41 lie on the top end portion of partition panel 81 ofchick box 8. The shape, structure and the like of connectors 41 may bevaried so long as they connects first body 11 to second body 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when feeding apparatus 1 is not bent usingbends 5, hanger 4 lacks an insertion hole, but as shown in FIGS. 4 and5, when feeding apparatus 1 is bent using bends 5, insertion hole 44 isformed between the connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4. Verticalnotches 43 and horizontal notch 42 serve to form insertion hole 44between connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4 when feeding apparatus 1is bent using bends 5. The position and the like of vertical notches 43and horizontal notch 42 may be varied so long as they can form insertionhole 44 when feeding apparatus 1 is bent by means of bends 5. Also, asshown in FIG. 7, it is possible to make it so that insertion hole 44 canbe formed even when feeding apparatus 1 is not bent by means of bends 5.In the feeding apparatus of the present invention, to say that “thehanger has an insertion hole” may signify either that insertion hole 44is formed only when feeding apparatus 1 is bent by means of bends 5, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or that insertion hole 44 is formed even whenfeeding apparatus 1 is not bent by means of bends 5, as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, insertion hole 44 is designed to allow theinsertion of protrusion 811, which is provided at the top end portion ofpartition panel 81 of chick box 8.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, hanger 4 is hung on the top end portion ofpartition panel 81 of chick box 8 by inserting protrusion 811 at the topend portion of partition panel 81 into insertion hole 44, and layingconnectors 41 on the top end portion of partition panel 81.

The material of feeding apparatus 1 is normally synthetic resin.Specific examples include polyethylene, polypropylene,ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-based resins,vinylidene chloride-based resins, styrene-based resins, acrylic-basedresins, methacrylate-based resins, vinyl proprionate-based resins, vinylacetate-maleic acid-based resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-basedresins, polyvinyl ether-based resins and other thermoplastic resins; andpolyamide (PA), polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate (PC), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polysulfone(PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polyallylate (PAR), polyether etherketone (PEEK),polyamideimide (PAI), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI) and otherengineering plastics and the like, which may also be in an amorphousstate.

An example of a preferred material for feeding apparatus 1 is amorphousPET (A-PET). Because A-PET is highly transparent and also combustible,it allows for easy assessment of the consumption of the gel feed 2contained in feed container 2, and for feeding apparatus to beincinerated after use while still installed in chick box 8.

When synthetic resin is used as the material for feeding apparatus 1,feeding apparatus 1 can be molded as a whole according to ordinarymethods such as press molding or vacuum forming for example. Whenfeeding apparatus 1 is molded as a whole, its thickness is normally0.05–0.5 mm or preferably 0.1–0.3 mm or more preferably 0.15–0.25 mm.

A method of feeding chicks using feeding apparatus 1 is explained belowbased on FIGS. 4 and 5.

Feed containers 2 are filled with gel feed F in order to feed chicks H.

To install feeding apparatus 1 in chick box 8, feeding apparatus 1 isbent by means of bends 5, and the angles between hanger 4 and first body11 and between hanger 4 and first body 12 are adjusted to position feedcontainers 2 below hanger 4.

When feeding apparatus 1 is bent by means of bend 5, insertion hole 44is formed between connectors 41 provided at both ends of hanger 4.

Protrusion 811 at the top end portion of partition panel 81 of chick box8 is inserted into thus-formed insertion hole 44, and connectors 41 arelaid on top end portion of partition panel 81 to hang hanger 4 on thetop end portion of partition panel 81.

Once hanger 4 is hung on the top end portion of partition panel 81,first body 11 and second body 12 are suspended from the top end portionof partition panel 81, and feed containers 2 on first body 11 and secondbody 12 are suspended from partition panel 81 by means of suspenders 6,aperture direction adjusters 3 and flanges 7. In this way, feedcontainer 2 and the gel feed F contained in feed container 2 aremaintained in chick box 8 at the height of the beaks H1 of chicks H whenthey are standing in chick box 8. The aperture directions of apertures21 of feed containers 2 are adjusted using aperture direction adjusters3 so as to be perpendicular or roughly perpendicular to partition panel81 of chick box 8.

Chicks H consume the gel feed F contained in feed containers 2 withbeaks H1 through apertures 21 of feed containers 2. The gel feed F whichis maintained in chick box 8 at the height of beaks H1 of chicks H whenstanding is easy for chicks H to recognize and ingest. Moreover, thefact that the aperture direction of apertures 2 of feed containers 2 isadjusted with aperture direction adjusters 3 to be perpendicular orroughly perpendicular to partition panel 81 of chick box 8 also makes iteasier for chicks H to recognize and ingest gel feed F.

Feeding apparatus 1 can be installed on the top end portion of partitionpanel 81 of chick box 8 even if there is no protrusion 811 at the topend portion of partition panel 81. In this case, connectors 41 are laidon top end portion of partition panel 81 to hang hanger 4 on partition81 and suspend feed containers 2 from the top end portion of partitionpanel 81.

Feeding apparatus 1 can also be installed on side panel 82 of chick box8. When side panel 82 of chick box 8 has a protrusion, this protrusionis inserted into insertion hole 44 and connectors 41 are laid on top endportion of side panel 82 to hang hanger 4 on the top end portion of sidepanel 82 and suspend feed containers 2 from the top end portion of sidepanel 82. When side panel 82 of chick box 8 lacks a protrusion (see FIG.4), connectors 41 are laid on top end portion of side panel 82 to hanghanger 4 on the top end portion of side panel 82 and suspend feedcontainers 2 from the top end portion of side panel 82.

When installing feeding apparatus 1 to side panel 82 of chick box 8,either first body 11 or second body 12 may be suspended inside chick box8. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to eliminateeither first body 11 or second body 12 from feeding apparatus 1 andreplace it with sheet 10.

When installing feeding apparatus 1 on a side panel 82 (or partitionpanel 81) which lacks a protrusion at the top end portion, hanger 4 mayalso be constructed without insertion hole 44, as shown in FIG. 6.

Feeding apparatus 1 may be used for feeding chicks H in chick box 8 whenfor example chicks H are being reared in chick box 8, or when chicks Hare being kept in chick box 8 during shipping or transportation.

The present invention is explained in more detail below using examples,but the present invention is not limited by these examples.

In the examples below, a feeding apparatus 1 having the constructionshown in FIGS. 1–3 is used as the feeding apparatus. The feedingapparatus 1 used in the examples below is about 220 mm long (verticallength in FIG. 2), about 235 mm wide (horizontal length in FIG. 2) andabout 0.2 mm thick. In the middle it has hanger 4, on both ends of whichare rectangular connectors 41, which are about 8 mm long (verticallength in FIG. 2) and 20 mm wide, as well as vertical notches 43, whichare about 8 mm long, and horizontal notch 42, which is about 195 mmlong. The distance between the centers of feed containers 2 andhorizontal notch 42 is about 88 mm. Feed containers 2 havesemi-rectangular apertures 21 which are about 20 mm long (verticallength in FIG. 2) and about 215 mm wide (horizontal length in FIG. 2),and the depth of feed containers 2 is about 9 mm.

Moreover, in the following examples, a fiber board box consisting of abottom about 450 mm long by 600 mm wide surrounded by four vertical sidepanels and having partition panels to divide the inside of the box into4 equal-sized compartments was used as the chick box. The partitionpanels of the chick box were about 165 mm high and about 5 mm thick, andwere provided with protrusions at the top end portion.

When feeding apparatus 1 is installed on a partition panel of this chickbox, the centers of feed containers 2 are maintained at a height ofabout 80 mm above the bottom of the chick box, and the feed contained infeed containers 2 is maintained at the height of the chicks' beaks whenthey are standing.

EXAMPLE 1

(1) Preparation of Gel Probiotic Composition (Agar Solidified Inteclean)

500 ml of variant VL liquid medium premix (containing 5 g tryptone(Oxoid), 2.5 g sodium chloride, 1.2 g Lab-Lemco powder (Oxoid), 2.5 gyeast extract (Difco), 0.2 g cysteine hydrochloride, 1.3 g glucose and0.3 g agar per 500 ml) was dissolved in pure water, and after additionof 4 g of Ina agar (UM-11) (final agar concentration 0.8% (w/v)),high-pressure steam sterilized for 15 minutes at 121° C. and maintainedat 43° C. This was then inoculated with 0.5 ml of aninoculum ofcommercial Inteclean (trade name, sold by Itochu Feed Mills) as achicken cecal content culture feed, and cultured anaerobically at 40° C.by the gas pack method. The agar was solidified to prepare a gelprobiotic composition (agar solidified Inteclean) containing a CEculture. The inoculum of Inteclean consisted of a 10% (w/v) emulsion ofcecal contents removed from roughly 300 day-old laying hens with 10%(v/v) glycerine-added GAM medium (Nissui Pharmaceutical), which wasstored frozen before use. The anaerobic culture system of BBL Co.(U.S.A.) was used for the gas pack method. In the gas pack method, theculture is sealed in a special container together with a hydrogengenerating bag and a catalyst, and the action of the catalyst causes thegenerated hydrogen to bind to residual oxygen and form water, exhaustingthe oxygen and forming an anaerobic environment.

(2) Preparation of Feeding Apparatus and Chick Boxes

The feed containers of each feeding apparatus were filled with 25 ml or12.5 ml of gel probiotic composition. Eight feeding apparatus with feedcontainers filled with 25 ml of gel probiotic composition (hereunder“feeding apparatus (a)”) and eight feeding apparatus with feedcontainers filled with 12.5 ml of gel probiotic composition (hereunder“feeding apparatus (b)”) were prepared.

Seven chick boxes were prepared in which each of the 4 compartmentsseparated by the partitions contained 25 chicken chicks (aged 0 days),along with 3 boxes in which the compartments contained no chicks.

(3) Test Methods

The following tests were performed using the aforementioned feedingapparatus and chick boxes.

Five each of feeding apparatus (a) and feeding apparatus (b) weresuspended from the partition panels of five chick boxes containingchicks. Two feeding apparatus were suspended in each chick box so thateach feed container was positioned in a different chamber of the chickbox. Two of feeding apparatus (a) were suspended in each of two of thefive chick boxes, two of feeding apparatus (b) in each of two otherchick boxes, and one each of Feeding apparatus (a) and feeding apparatus(b) in the remaining chick box.

Neither feeding apparatus (a) nor feeding apparatus (b) was installed inthe remaining 2 chick boxes which contained chicks.

The five chick boxes with feeding apparatus and the two chick boxeswithout feeding apparatus were transported from Hatchery A in NiigataPrefecture to Farm B in Iwate Prefecture, and each feeding apparatus wasweighed when the feeding apparatus was installed at Hatchery A (3:30p.m.), two hours after installation (5:30 p.m.) and upon arrival at FarmB (8:00 a.m. of the following day), and the ingestion of gel probioticcomposition per chick from each feeding apparatus calculated.

Upon departure from Hatchery A and upon arrival at Farm B, each chick(total 200 chicks) in the chick boxes without feeding apparatus (2boxes), each chick (total 100 chicks) in the chick box with only feedingapparatus (a) (1 box) and each chick (total 100 chicks) in the chick boxwith only feeding apparatus (b) (1 box) was weighed, and the weightchange per chick calculated for each chick box. The chicks which hadbeen transported in each chick box were also weighed at age 1 week andage 2 weeks to track the growth of the chicks after arrival at Farm B.

In addition, three each of feeding apparatus (a) and feeding apparatus(b) were suspended from the partition panels of three chick boxes thatdid not contain chicks, and these chick boxes were transported fromHatchery A to Farm B as described above. Spillage of the gel probioticcomposition during transport was then inspected, each feeding apparatuswas weighed two hours after installation (5:30 p.m.) and upon arrival atFarm B (8:00 the following morning), and the drying (weight loss) of gelprobiotic composition calculated.

(4) Test Results

1. Ingestion of Gel Probiotic Composition Per Chick from Each FeedingApparatus

Ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition from the 5 feedingapparatus (a) was 0.93 g, 0.60 g, 0.79 g, 0.37 g and 0.76 g two hoursafter installation (average 0.69 g, s.d. 0.21 g), and 1.05 g, 0.98 g,0.98 g, 0.94 g and 0.95 g upon arrival at Farm B (average 0.98 g, s.d.0.04 g).

Ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition from the 5 feedingapparatus (b) was 0.49 g, 0.51 g, 0.42 g, 0.49 g and 0.37 g two hoursafter installation (mean 0.46 g, s.d. 0.06 g), and 0.53 g, 0.51 g, 0.51g, 0.50 g and 0.51 g upon arrival at Farm B (mean 0.51 g, s.d. 0.01 g).

The target ingestion of gel probiotic composition was 0.5 ml per chick.

Mean ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition from feedingapparatus (a) was 0.69±0.21 g (≈ml) 2 hours after installation, meaningthat the target feed ingestion was achieved with some variation, whileupon arrival at Farm B it was 0.98±0.04 g (≈ml), meaning about twice thetarget amount was achieved. Upon arrival at Farm B, virtually all of thegel probiotic composition contained in each feed container of feedingapparatus (a) had been consumed.

Mean ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition from feedingapparatus (b) was 0.46±0.06 g (≈ml) 2 hours after installation, meaningthat 90% of the target feed ingestion was achieved, while upon arrivalat Farm B it was 0.51±0.01 g (≈ml), meaning that the target feedingestion was achieved. Upon arrival at Farm B, all of the gel probioticcomposition contained in each feed container of feeding apparatus (b)had been consumed.

These results show that by using feeding apparatus 1 having theconstruction shown in FIGS. 1–3 as the feeding apparatus, andmaintaining the position of the gel probiotic composition at the heightof the chicks beaks when they are standing, it is possible to induce thechicks to ingest the necessary quantity of gel probiotic composition ina short period of time.

2. Spillage and Drying of Gel Probiotic Composition During Transport

No spillage or loss of gel probiotic composition from the feedcontainers was observed in any feeding apparatus.

The drying loss of gel probiotic composition in the three feedingapparatus (a) was 1.9 g, 1.6 g and 1.56 g 2 hours after installation(mean 1.69 g, s.d. 0.19 g), and upon arrival at Farm B it was 10.41 g,11.39 g and 10.49 g (mean 10.76 g, s.d. 0.54 g).

The drying loss of gel probiotic composition in the three feedingapparatus (b) was 1.6 g, 1.14 g and 1.71 g 2 hours after installation(mean 1.48 g, s.d. 0.30 g), and upon arrival at Farm B it was 9.72 g,8.82 g and 9.71 g (mean 9.42 g, s.d. 0.52 g).

These results show that by using feeding apparatus 1 having theconstruction shown in FIGS. 1–3 as the feeding apparatus, it is possibleto prevent spillage of gel probiotic composition from the feedcontainers, and ensure that the gel probiotic composition contained inthe feed containers is supplied to the chicks. Moreover, the drying lossof gel probiotic composition was entirely from water evaporation, withno reason to suspect reduction in the bacteria contained in the gelprobiotic composition, so it appears that drying of the gel probioticcomposition does not detract from the effects of the probioticcomposition (the effect of forming the chicks' intestinal flora).

3. Weight Change Per Chick in the Chick Boxes, and 1-Week and 2 -WeekWeights of Chicks Transported in the Chick Boxes

The mean weights per chick of the chicks in the 2 chick boxes withoutthe feeding apparatus were 40.2±2.7 g and 39.7±3.2 g upon leavingHatchery A, and 37.8±2.3 g and 37.5±2.8 g upon arrival at Farm B, aweight loss of 2.4 g and 2.2 g, respectively. The mean 1-week weights ofthe chicks transported in these boxes were 79.7±5.8 g and 79.9±4.9 g,while their mean 2-week weights were 136.5±10.9 g and 137.0±9.2 g.

The mean weight per chick of the chicks in the box equipped with feedingapparatus (a) only was 39.3±2.7 g upon leaving Hatchery A and 37.6±2.3 gupon arrival at Farm B, a weight loss of 1.7 g. The mean 1-week weightof the chicks that had been transported in this box was 78.3±5.0 g,while their mean 2-week weight was 135.2±9.4 g.

The mean weight per chick of the chicks in the box equipped with feedingapparatus (b) only was 40.1±2.6 g upon leaving Hatchery A and 38.1±2.2 gupon arrival at Farm B, a weight loss of 1.9 g. The mean 1-week weightof the chicks that had been transported in this box was 80.3±5.9 g,while their mean 2-week weight was 137.4±11.5 g.

The weight loss per chick in the boxes without feeding apparatus was 2.2g to 2.4 g, while the weight loss per chick in the boxes equipped withfeeding apparatus (a) or (b) was 1.7 g to 1.9 g, indicating thatconsumption of gel probiotic composition controlled the chicks' weightloss during transport. No obvious difference was seen in mean 1-week and2-week weights of chicks that had been transported in the boxesdepending on whether the boxes were equipped with the feeding apparatus.

EXAMPLE 2

(1) Preparation of Colored and Uncolored Gel Probiotic Composition

As in Example 1, 500 ml of variant VL liquid medium premix was dissolvedin pure water, and after addition of 4 g of Ina agar (UM-11) (final agarconcentration 0.8% (w/v)), high-pressure steam sterilized for 15 minutesat 121° C. and maintained at 43° C. This was then inoculated with 0.5 mlof Inteclean inoculum, and cultured anaerobically at 40° C. by the gaspack method to obtain a CE culture containing agar.

49.5 ml of this CE culture was placed in a sterile bin, and 0.5 ml of a10% (w/v) Red No. 1 solution or a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solution added(Red No. 1 final concentration 0.1% (w/v), Blue No. 4 finalconcentration 0.1% (w/v)).

25.0 ml amounts of a sample of the CE culture to which neither Red No. 1nor Blue No. 4 had been added (hereunder “uncolored sample”), a sampleof the CE culture to which Red No. 1 had been added (hereunder “redsample”) and a sample of the CE culture to which Blue No. 4 had beenadded (hereunder “blue sample”) were poured into petri dishes and feedcontainers of the feeding apparatus, solidified, and stored frozen insealed containers until use.

( 2 ) Ingestion Test of Colored and Uncolored Gel Probiotic Composition

Petri dishes containing the uncolored sample, the red sample and theblue sample were placed on the floor of chick boxes, or feedingapparatus filled with the uncolored sample, the red sample and the bluesample were suspended from the partition panels of chick boxes, and usedto feed freely same-day (0 day old) and next-day (1 day old) chicks.Chicken chicks were used.

Of the four compartments of a chick box separated by partition panels,10 chicks each were placed in two compartments, and petri dishescontaining uncolored feed placed on the floor to supply the chicks withuncolored feed (“Test Group 1”). Twenty-five chicks were placed in eachof the two remaining compartments, and a feeding apparatus filled withuncolored feed suspended from the partition panel separating the twocompartments to supply the chicks with uncolored feed (“Test Group 2”).

Of the four compartments of another chick box separated by partitionpanels, 25 chicks each were placed in two compartments, and a feedingapparatus filled with red feed suspended from the partition panelseparating the two compartments to supply the chicks with red feed(“Test Group 3”). 25 chicks each were placed in the remaining twocompartments, and a feeding apparatus filled with blue feed suspendedfrom the partition panel separating the two compartments to supply thechicks with blue feed (“Test Group 4”).

Each sample was weighed before being given to the chicks, and alsoweighed at fixed intervals thereafter, and feed ingestion per chick wascalculated.

The feed ingestion of the same-day chicks is shown in Table 1 and thatof the next-day chicks in Table 2.

TABLE 1 Elapsed time (hours) Test Group 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 6 8 1 0 g 0.4 g0.4 g 0.6 g 1.7 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2 0 g 0.2 g 0.4 g 0.6 g 1.2 g 1.6 g1.9 g 1.9 g 3 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.5 g 1.1 g 1.4 g 1.7 g 4 0 g 0.1 g0.2 g 0.4 g 1.3 g 1.9 g 2.0 g 2.0 g

TABLE 2 Elapsed time (hours) Test Group 0 0.5 1 2 4 8 1 0 g 0.5 g 0.5 g1.1 g 1.3 g 1.7 g 2 0 g 1.2 g 1.8 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 3 0 g 1.1 g 1.3 g2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 4 0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g

When chicks were fed by the conventional method by placing uncoloredfeed on the floor (Test Group 1), the same-day chicks fed well (seeTable 1), but the next-day chicks did not (see Table 2). This is thoughtto be because same-day chicks are not yet steady on their feet and spenda lot of time sitting, making it easier for them to recognize and ingestfeed placed on the floor, while next-day chicks spend more timestanding, making it easier for them to recognize and ingest feed placedat the height of their beaks.

Even though it was easier for the same-day chicks to recognize andingest feed placed on the floor, however, the blue feed contained in thefeeding apparatus (Test Group 4) was ingested in roughly the same amount(see Table 1) as the uncolored feed placed on the floor (Test Group 1).By contrast, the uncolored feed (Test Group 2) and red feed (Test Group3) contained in the feeding apparatus was ingested in lower amounts thanthe uncolored feed (Test Group 1 ) placed on the floor (see Table 1).

As mentioned above, it was easier for the next-day chicks to recognizeand ingest feed placed at the height of their beaks, but of theuncolored, red and blue feeds contained in the feeding apparatus (TestGroups 2, 3 and 4), more of the blue feed was ingested (see Table 2).

These results showed that chicks prefer feed that is colored blue overfeed that is uncolored or colored red. Namely, it was shown that byadding blue color to gel probiotic composition contained in the feedcontainers of a feeding apparatus, it is possible to induce chicks toingest the necessary amount of gel probiotic composition in a shortperiod of time.

EXAMPLE 3

(1) Preparation of Uncolored and Colored Gel Probiotic Composition

A CE culture containing agar was obtained in the same way as in Example2, and 49.5 ml of this CE culture was placed in a sterile bin and 0.5 mlof a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solution added (final Blue No. 4 concentration0.1% (w/v)) to obtained blue feed.

48.9 ml of the CE culture was also placed in a separate sterile bin, and0.1 ml of a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solution and 1.0 ml of an 0.5% (w/v)phenol red solution added, followed by 0.5 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid toobtain green feed.

25.0 ml each of uncolored CE culture (hereunder “uncolored feed”) theblue feed and the green feed were poured into petri dishes and the feedcontainers of feeding apparatus, solidified, and stored frozen in sealedcontainers until use.

(2) Ingestion Test of Uncolored and Colored Gel Probiotic Composition

Petri dishes containing uncolored, blue or green feed were placed on thefloor of chick boxes, or feeding apparatus containing uncolored, blue orgreen feed were suspended from the partition panels of chick boxes, andsame-day (0 day old) chicks given free access to the feed. Chickenchicks were used.

10 chicks each were placed in two of four compartments of a chick boxseparated by partition panels, and petri dishes containing uncoloredfeed placed on the floor to supply uncolored feed to the chicks (“TestGroup 1”). 25 chicks were placed in each of the remaining 2compartments, and a feeding apparatus containing uncolored feed wassuspended from the partition panel separating the two compartments tosupply uncolored feed to the chicks (“Test Group 2”).

25 chicks each were placed in two of four compartments of another chickbox separated by partition panels, and a feeding apparatus containingblue feed was suspended from the partition panel separating the twocompartments to supply blue feed to the chicks (“Test Group 3”). 25chicks each were also placed in the remaining two compartments, and afeeding apparatus containing green feed was suspended from the partitionpanel separating the two compartments to supply green feed to the chicks(“Test Group 4”).

Each feed was weighed before being given to the chicks, and also atfixed intervals afterwards, and the ingestion per chick was calculatedfrom the amount of feed consumed. The feed ingestion of the same-daychicks is shown in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Elapsed Time (hours) Test Group 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 5 7 1 0 g 0.1 g0.1 g 0.3 g 0.6 g 1.1 g 1.9 g 2.5 g 2 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.5 g 0.8 g1.0 g 1.2 g 3 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.3 g 0.7 g 1.0 g 1.2 g 1.2 g 4 0 g 0 g 0 g0.1 g 0.2 g 0.3 g 0.6 g 0.8 g

The same-day chicks ingested roughly the same amount of blue feed fromthe feeding apparatus (Test Group 3) as they did uncolored feed from thefloor (Test Group 1). By contrast, they ingested less of the uncoloredfeed (Test Group 2) and green feed (Test Group 4) from the feedingapparatus than they did uncolored feed from the floor (Test Group 1) andblue feed from the feeding apparatus (Test Group 3).

These results show that chicks prefer blue colored feed to green coloredfeed. In other words, blue coloring of the gel feed contained in thefeed container of the feeding apparatus is more effective at inducingchicks to consume the necessary amount of gel probiotic composition in ashort period of time than is green coloring.

EXAMPLE 4

(1) Preparation of Colored Gel Probiotic Compositions with DifferentPigment Concentrations

CE culture containing agar was obtained in the same way as in Example 2,4 sterile bins were filled with 50 ml each of this CE culture, and 0.5ml, 0.2 ml 0.1 ml and 0.05 ml of a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solution addedto final concentrations of 0.1% (w/v), 0.04% (w/v), 0.03% and 0.02%(w/v) of Blue No. 4.

25.0 ml of each sample was poured into a feeding apparatus, solidified,and stored frozen in a sealed container until use.

(2) Ingestion Test of Colored Gel Probiotic Compositions with DifferentPigment Concentrations

The same-day chicks (0 days old) were given free access to the samplescontained in the feeding apparatus. Chicken chicks were used.

25 chicks each were placed in each of four compartments of a chick boxdivided by partition panels, and feeding apparatuses filled with thesamples were suspended from the partition panels to supply feed to thechicks.

Each sample was weighed before being given to the chicks and at fixedintervals afterwards, and the ingestion per chick was calculated fromthe amount of feed consumed.

The ingestion of the same-day chicks is shown in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Elapsed Time (hours) Concentration 0 0.5 1 2 3.5 4.5 5.5 0.1% 0g 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.6 g 1.0 g 1.0 g 0.04% 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.3 g 0.6 g 0.9 g1.0 g 0.03% 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.7 g 1.0 g 1.0 g 0.02% 0 g 0 g 0 g 0.1g 0.4 g 0.9 g 1.0 g

Feed ingestion by the chicks did not vary greatly depending on theconcentration of Blue No. 4, but was slightly lower at 0.02%, which isclose to green, and slightly higher at 0.03%–0.04%.

The results indicate that chicks prefer blue colored feed independent ofthe concentration of blue pigment. That is, by coloring blue the gelprobiotic composition contained in the feed container of a feedingapparatus, it is possible to induce chicks to consume the necessaryamount of gel probiotic composition in a short period of time regardlessof the concentration of blue pigment in the gel probiotic composition.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

With the feeding apparatus and feeding method of the present inventionit is possible to induce chicks to consume feed efficiently bymaintaining or positioning the feed at the height of the chicks' beakswhen they are standing.

1. A feeding apparatus for birds, the apparatus comprising: a box forcontaining the birds; a partition disposed in the box, at least one flatmember hanging on the partition; a container for feed provided in oneportion of the member; and a groove formed in the member to permit themember to be folded along the groove to adjust the location of the oneportion, and therefore the container, so that the feed can be maintainedat the height of the birds' beaks when they are standing.
 2. The feedingapparatus of claim 1 wherein the groove extends across the at least onemember and the container is located between the groove and an end of theat least one member.
 3. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the atleast one member is also folded about a transverse center fold to formtwo member portions, and wherein the center fold extends over the top ofthe partition, and the member portions extend to the respective sides ofthe partition.
 4. The feeding apparatus of claim 3 further comprising aprotrusion extending from me upper portion of the partition and throughan opening in the center fold.
 5. The feeding apparatus of claim 3wherein one container is provided in one member portion, and furthercomprising another container provided in the other member portion. 6.The feeding apparatus of claim 5 wherein another groove is formed in theother member portion, extends across the other member portion, andwherein the other container is located between the latter groove and anend of the other member portion.
 7. The feeding apparatus of claim 1wherein the folding of the one portion of the at least one member alongthe groove relative to another portion of the at least one memberadjusts the relative angular position between the portions.